Pilates & Yoga
I see many posts and articles entitled Pilates v's Yoga and I have to say I find it a little frustrating. It is not a case of one discipline being better than the other. It's about finding what works for you. Plus, lets face it Joseph Pilates did base, dare I say, take some Yoga moves and incorporate them into Contrology (the original name for Pilates). So they do share some characteristics, but there are differences between Pilates & Yoga.
Both Pilates & Yoga are low impact exercises focusing on all muscles groups, rather than specific groups.
Pilates focuses on proper alignment, core strength, breath, precision and control, which in turn improve balance and flexibility through repetition and a constant pace.
Yoga is more holistic and focuses on the the union of mind, body and spirit and can be slower paced holding poses for longer periods of time.
Both Pilates and Yoga have developed many variations over the years and there are those who believe, particularly in pilates circles, if it is not the original Contrology method it's not Pilates.
But guess what? I disagree with this, surprisingly! For me, if it's Pilates or Yoga, we should be celebrating movement and making classes accessible for everyone regardless of age, ability, disability or any other bility.
Both Pilates and Yoga offer multiple benefits and as mentioned it is about finding what works for you.
If you enjoy working out at the gym, improving strength, the resistance & strength training that can be offered from Pilates may work better for you. If you prefer a more spiritual practice, greater flow and sequencing than a yoga discipline may be a better choice.
But you do not have to choose one or the other, you may find both work for you.
With either Pilaties or Yoga you will definitely find improvement in breath control, balance, flexibility, mobility, strength and mental health, with stress levels lowering and a better sleep patterns.
Although I should strongly be advocating Pilates, and I do, what I want to do is encourage people to keep mobile, keep moving, flexing, extending, rotating that spine and most importantly try.